Modular compter cable spool

ABSTRACT

Keeping computer, router and switch cables organized can be challenging as cables may have excess length which can become entangled with each other and which can be susceptible to damage. The enclosed invention relates to a modular spool. Many copies of the spool may be linked together to a large number with ease and convenience. They may also be easily separated for convenient maintenance. Each spool has a male connector on one end and a female connector on the other end, so that one spool design can result in large lengths of connected spools. The spools may be connected by a bayonet style system or by screws or pins after alignment with a notch and key system. 
     An alternative embodiment has an array of nubs which matches an array of nub ports which may be aligned by the shape of the plates at the end of the spools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION References Cited

-   U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,002 Miller-   U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,373 deLarosiere, Pierre J.-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,063 Schreiter, Michael E-   U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,382 King-   U.S. Pat. No. 7,637,771 Lauren-   U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,047 Peng et al

Personal computers are usually serviced by multiple cables which serve avariety of functions such as mouse, printer, internet, speakers and manymore. Routers and switches can have even more cables. But these cablescan be hard to organize. The excess length of the various cables allowsthem to become tangled which can make minor computer repairs an exercisein disentanglement. Even worse, these excess wires can become vulnerableto physical damage due to people stepping on them or chair castersrunning over them. Since this damage to the wires can result in randomand intermittent signal corruption, these excess lengths of cable are asource of system vulnerability which can be hard to isolate and remedy.Often times, cables are cut to custom length and the connectors attachedby hand but these connections can have less reliability that factorymade connections, and are expensive.

The cable organization field has been busy recently with several typesof spools, however, none of the prior art has a modular spool which bothwraps the excess cable around a spool and organizes multiple spoolstogether in a modular fashion. Some spool type designs include King inU.S. Pat. No. 6,497,382 and Peng et al in U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,047.Laursen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,637,771 describes a cable management systemthat couples spools to the system of a vertical panel using a bayonetstyle connection but this system appears to be hard to install and noteconomically or spatially efficient. Miller in U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,002describes stacking spools but does not describe a means for easilyconnecting spools end to end. Schreiter, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,063,describes a system of modular spools but the spools connect in thelateral direction rather than the longitudinal direction and so wouldnot be effective for organizing computer cables In U.S. Pat. No.4,416,373, deLarosiere discloses a method for stacking bottles but thistoo, does not provide the ease of assembly or lateral stability neededto organize computer cables. In 1949 Loe Kirk Christiansen of Denmarkconnected objects together using and array of nubs and matching array ofnub ports, but this technique has never been applied to spools and thisapplication gives one of embodiments both lateral stability and ease ofassembly. The relevant patent numbers for this prior art are unknown butthe majority were believed to be assigned to the Lego Corporation. Aproduct has been found which was purchased in Canada, circa 2003, whichhad a bayonet system for connecting hollow football shaped spheres endto end but this was not a spool shape to easily collect excess cable andwas deemed unusable by the consumer of the product. It lacked the easeof use and stability which an array of nubs and matching ports provides.This product is particularly unsuitable for router cables due to spatialrequirements since it was not a spool. It is not known if this producthad patent protection.

There is a need then for a way to organize excess cable lengths ofmultiple cables in a way which is neat and which allows for cables to beremoved and added to the computer conveniently

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention describes a spool which can be connected in a modularfashion to other spools of its own kind to organize cables for use incomputers, routers or switches. The spools link end to end so that aninfinite number of identical spools may be linked together. The spoolsare easily linked and are also easily taken apart to make bothorganization of the cable, adding of cables and removal of cables easy.The spools each have a male connector on one end and a female connectoron the other end. The spools can connect by various means including abayonet style system, or a key type system with screw or cotter pinconnection or a combination of these methods. The spool can be made as asingle plastic part from a mold.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a single spool from an oblique perspective.

FIG. 2 the Male Receptacle for a bayonet style connection system from anend view as if the Male Receptacle Plate has been removed.

FIG. 3 shows the Male and Female receptacles which are aligned by a keyand notch and which are held in place by a screw from the end view as ifthe Male Receptacle Plate and Female Receptacle Plate has been removed.

FIG. 4 shows the Male and Female receptacles which are aligned by a keyand notch and which are held in place by a pin such as a cotter pin fromthe end view as if the Male Receptacle Plate and Female Receptacle Platehas been removed.

FIG. 5 shows a single spool from the side view without being connectedto another spool.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the bayonet style connection of two spools.

FIG. 7 shows an end view of a Female Bayonet Receptacle.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a Female Bayonet Receptacle.

FIG. 9 shows a Male Bayonet Receptacle from the end view.

FIG. 10 show a side view of a Male Bayonet Receptacle.

FIG. 11 shows oblique view of seven spools connected together side byside each of which has cable wrapped around it.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of a single spool which has Dividers on it.

FIG. 13 shows the end view of a Male Receptacle which is an Array ofNubs.

FIG. 14 shows the end view of a Female Receptacle which is an Array ofNub Ports.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a Male receptacle which is an Array of Nubs.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a Female Receptacle which is an Array of NubPorts.

FIG. 17 is an end view of a Female Receptacle Plate.

FIG. 18 is an end view of a Male Receptacle Plate.

FIG. 19 is a side view of a spool with an Array of Nubs on one end andan Array of Nub Ports on the other end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a single design of a spool. Multiple identical units ofthe spool may be linked side to side to any length desired. Each spoolhas a Male Receptacle (7) and a Female Receptacle ((9) and the joiningof these two receptacles allows for the possible infinite length ofjoined spools. The spools may also be easily separated from each otherif one of the cables needs to be removed, and the remaining spools thenconnected maintaining the order of the cables. Excess cable may bewrapped around the Spool Hub (1) to prevent untidiness and possibledamage to cable integrity and ease maintenance.

FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a single spool. The Spool Hub (1) isattached to a Female Receptacle Plate (3) and a Male Receptacle Plate(5). One the Female Receptacle Palte (3) is a Female Receptacle (9),which is hidden in FIG. 1, and on the Male Receptacle Plate (5) is aMale Receptacle (7). For economical reasons the preferred embodiment maybe a single piece of molded plastic though other multi piece embodimentsmay be possible and are considered to be within the scope of theinvention. Two Thin Cable Stabilizing Ports (11) may be found on bothThe Female Receptacle Plate (3) and the Male Receptacle Plate (5) andthese may be used to stabilize the cable on the spool, though their useis optional. Thick Cable Stabilizing Ports (13) may also be found. Thelength of the joined Male Receptacle (7) and the Female Receptacle (9)allows cable to Go Through the Thin Cable Stabilizing Ports (11) and theThick Cable Stabilizing Ports (13) without hitting the adjacent spool.

FIG. 2 shows the end view of a Screw Fastened Male Receptacle (2) whichis one possible form of a Male Receptacle (7). It has two AlignmentNotches (19) and two Alignment Keys (17) and two Inner Screw Holes (12).FIG. 3 shows the matching of a Screw Fastened Male Receptacle (2) and aScrew Fastened Female Receptacle (4). FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3 and FIG. 4shows the fasteners only as if Female Receptacle Plate (3) and the MaleReceptacle Plate (5) have been removed. When connecting spools thereceptacles are first aligned by inserting the Alignment Keys (17) intothe Alignment Notches (19). In this embodiment the two spools are thenattached by screwing a Screw (8) through the Outer Screw Holes (10) andthe Inner Screw Holes (12).

FIG. 4 shows a similar system except that a Cotter Pin (14) is usedinstead of a Screw (8) to fasten the two spools through and Outer PinHole (10) and an Inner Pin Hole (16).

FIG. 5 shows a single spool which uses a bayonet system of joining fromthe side view. The Spool Hub (1) is between the Female receptacle Plate(3) and the Male Receptacle Plate (5. The Male Bayonet Receptacle (30)and the Female Bayonet Receptacle (32) are examples of the MaleReceptacle (7) and the Female Receptacle (9) FIG. 6 shows a close up thebayonet system in the joined position from the side view. FIG. 7 showsthe Female Bayonet Receptacle (32) from the end view. The BayonetAlignment Notch (33) is connected to the Bayonet Fastening Channel (34).A Bayonet Fastening Channel Chamber, an area of the Bayonet FasteningChannel (34) with expanded height to provide for stabilization of theconnection between two spools, is possible but is likely to be costlyand so is not shown in drawings of the preferred embodiment. FIG. 8shows this Female Bayonet Receptacle, which is an embodiment of a FemaleReceptacle (9), from the side. FIG. 9 shows the Male Bayonet Receptacle(30) from the end view with a Male Bayonet Notch (31). This Male BayonetReceptacle (30) is an example of a Male Receptacle (7) as shown in aside view in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 shows seven spools linked together, each of which has a singlecable wrapped around it and placed through two Thick Cable StabilizingPorts, one for the Cable Going In (40), the other for the Cable GoingOut (41). The entire assembled unit may lie on the floor, be suspendedby the weight of the cables or physically supported by other means suchas using the cable stabilizing ports of anther hole which is not shown,for suspension wires attached to shelving or hardware chassis. Usingthis system the spools may be easily added to neatly accommodate newcables or the spools may be easily removed either permanently ortemporarily for maintenance purposes.

FIG. 12 Shows a modified spool which may be used for hardware such asswitches which have a high density of cables. The Spool Hub (1) hasDividers (45) attached to it so that multiple cables may be wrappedaround it without being tangled. While this allows for a higher densityof cables, during maintenance all wires on the single spool will have tobe temporarily removed.

In all embodiments, cables may be labels by placing labels on the FemaleReceptacle Plate (3) or the Male Receptacle Plate (5) or the Dividers(45).

FIG. 13, FIG. 15 and FIG. 17 shows a Male Receptacle (7) which is anArray of Nubs (47) which matches an Array of Nub Ports (48) on theFemale Receptacle (9) in FIG. 14, FIG. 16 and FIG. 18. The side view ofFIG. 19 shows a spool with an Array of Nubs (47) on one end and an Arrayof Nub Ports (48) on the other end.

For ease of alignment the Female Receptacle Plate (3) and the MaleReceptacle Plate (5) may have shapes other than circular. Onealternative is to have a straight edge on the Female Receptacle Plate(3) which matches a straight edge on the Male Receptacle Plate (5) toease alignment of different spools. This straight edge can be a slicefrom of a circle, a square a rectangle, a triangle or a polygon. TheFemale Receptacle Plate (3) and the Male Receptacle Plate (5) can alsobe aligned ovals, ellipses or egg shapes to make the Male Receptacle (7)and the Female Receptacle (9) easy to align. These alternate shapes arenot shown.

A system of threads, a female thread and a male thread on each spoolcould also be used to fasten spools together except that this isbelieved to be less convenient due to an excessive number of turnsrequired. It is also thought to be less stable and less cost efficientand is not shown.

1. spool which may be modularly connected in a lateral manner consisting of: an inner hub, a male receptacle plate, a male receptacle a female receptacle plate a female receptacle.
 2. A spool as in claim 1 where the male and female receptacles have and alignment mechanism and a fastening mechanism.
 3. A spool as in claim 2 where the alignment mechanism is a notch and key.
 4. A spool as in claim 2 where the alignment mechanism and the fastening mechanism is a bayonet system
 5. A spool as in claim 2 where the fastening mechanism is a screw.
 6. A spool as in claim 2 where the fastening mechanism is a pin.
 7. A spool as in claim 6 where the pin is a cotter pin.
 8. A spool as in claim 2 where the alignment mechanism is the shape of the male receptacle plate.
 9. A spool as in claim 2 where the alignment mechanism is the shape of the female receptacle plates,
 10. A spool as in claim 1 where the male receptacle is an array of nubs and the female receptacle is a matching array of ports.
 11. A spool as in claim 1 where one of the receptacle plates is only marginally larger than the inner hub so that the device effectively only has one receptacle plate 